BOO!

This is a super easy and cute way to “scare” up a shelf. I took the word BOO and changed out the O’s for eyeballs. Once again heading into the garage for scrap wood I used a piece of 1”x6” pine.  I cut them at 3 different sized (just because I like a little chaos)

I sanded down the edges and painted it black.

Using my wonderful Sure Cuts Alot 2 I used the font Burton’s Nightmare to cut the B.   I used a scrap of Halloween paper I had in my stash and Mod podge'd them onto the largest piece of wood.

Then I used this outline (I found on the web) to create a cutting file.

 (Maybe I’ve just become lazy, but I pretty much use my Sure Cuts A lot and Cricut with everything I do!Seriously, it is worth the $60 for the program!)

Then I just Mod Podge’d everything all together. My little kids think they are great ( but not too spooky) but my bigger little kids loved them because they weren’t “cutesy”

Super Easy, and just what I needed for this shelf!

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What can you do with a $1 piece of particle board?

While shopping at one of my favorite stores (The Home Depot) I often frequent the “left over” wood section. This is the place where the pieces of wood that have already been cut and they have odd shaped or measured wood that they can’t sell for full price. So I get to buy them cheap! They range anywhere from $0.50 to $3.00 a piece. I found 3 pieces of 3ft x 4 ft particle board for a $1 a piece. I thought to my self, “Self, buy them, Christmas is coming up” So I did!

Once home I’ve set out on a mission on figuring out all the great things you can make with a piece of particle board. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far…

Welcome sign (the words around the edges are Welcome in 8 different languages)

I showed this one in a previous post but it fit here too!

Proclamation for The Family

Halloween Subway art.  I just love the look of this one!

More subway art, with a great message.  My kids love this one.

What ideas do you have for the particle board?

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Updating a Kitchen on a Budget

I’ve got an L shaped kitchen. Technically I've got an "eat-in" kitchen, but technically the dining area is around the corner, so if I want to be spiffy, i've got a separate dining area.  I love my kitchen, but it drives me crazy. The floor doesn’t match the counters and vice versa. I can’t find a backsplash that will match both. I’ve thought about white subway tiles, but that conflicts with my “cheap” side. When we bought our home it had a basic white, laminate kitchen. No special lighting, nothing to make it stand out (except the old 1960’s style above the sink) So a little while ago I decided it HAD to change, maybe just a little more updated?


Our stove finally went kaput (seeing that it was a hand me down from my Mom’s house, not too bad, it was only 20+ years old)

So my hubby and I shopped around online and found a great stainless one for $150 and it's only a couple of years old. Yup, only $150, I couldn’t believe it either. It was filthy, but with A LOT of elbow grease it looks great.

In addition to that little number, I sold some of our old items that were gathering dust in the garage and was able to purchase an above the stove microwave. So I set out with a mission. How do I make the kitchen “pretty” without spending a lot of $$$$$
Here are my before pics….

And this is now!

(sorry my counter tops are RARELY spotlessly clean)

I moved the cabinet above the stove and installed the over-the-range microwave (CAUTION- ask for help, my back hurt for a week after this, and as a side note the correct way to install one of these puppies is to let your husband do it.  The frustration just isn't worth it!) That cleared up a lot of counter space.

I removed the little wooden swag thingy above the sink and did a little touch up paint.

I had some under cabinet lighting hanging around in the garage, so I snapped that up and installed it under the cabinets

I ran down to Home Depot and picked up a thin piece of crown molding and put that around the tops of all the cabinets (it cost me about $20 for the molding)

Now on to the FUN stuff....

For the cabinets I ran to the dollar store and picked up a bunch of fake grass and put that in bunches on top of the cabinets (about $8).  Using some scraps of wood in the garage I spray painted them red ($3) and used my vinyl to cut out words (Enjoy, Bon Appetit, Delicious, and Gourmet)  Then I ran through the house looking for little nick naks to put up top.  Some vases, little iron thingy's, ect.  Finally I ran some rope lighting ($10) to brighten it all up.

For the 2 windows I found some clearance material at Home Fabrics for $2/yard and made some faux shades.

For the light above the sink I picked up a hanging light from IKEA (i think it was $8) and hung it myself.  I even took a little black paint and painted the brass light fixtures to make them a little more updated.

Total: $53

It may not be perfect, but it is definitely a little better than before.

Ideas for Craft Meeting

I've been working on a couple of ideas for our October Relief Society Meeting.  And I figured I would get your opinion of a few of them.  We only have a half hour for each craft, and we have a large variance in ages (from cute little 21 year old newly weds, to well established grandma's)  What do you think?

Establish a House- I figure to fit into our time frame I would have the wood plaques already painted either white, black, or brown.  And the vinyl is precut (should fit into a half hour)

Pretty self explanatory, White plate, precut vinyl

Temple vinyl (thanks Kaseys Kreations) on Glass Block

This one I could have the blocks pre-painted, they bring their own craft paper.  Really easy, just modpodge & tie raffia.  Vinyl wording is pre-cut (hopefully only a half hour) Thanks Curly Q Crafts for the great idea!

I just loved this "family tree" over at Peak View Enrichment I'm pretty sure it isn't a half hour (mine took about 1.5 hrs, but I just loved it)

Just a little something cutsie from my home.  I downsized a burlap wreath (its supposed to be a heart) and hung it by ribbon inside a frame.

Bunk Bed Shelf

So having 7 kids in a 1960's house sometimes prove challenging.  The bedrooms are small, I mean REALLY small.  So, with 2 kids to a room bunkbeds were the only option.

(Yup, that's the whole room, wall to almost wall)

Anyways,  my kids on the top bunk are ALWAYS complaining about no where to put their "stuff". 

Seriously, where do they sleep?

So we decided to make them these...

 (we took down the side rails- because the kids are "too big" for them, to quote their words, but they worked with the rails up too)

It was really simple too.  I took a piece of scrap wood (found in the Home Depot scrap bin for $1) and cut it to roughly 9"x13".  I also used some scrap 1x2's and scrap molding we had laying around in the garage.

First, I used my husbands air compressor & nail gun to attach everything, but it would be just as easy with a hammer & nails, or screws (you'd want to pre-drill)

I took the 9x13 piece of wood and nailed the 1x2's down the sides as follows.  I left roughly 2 feet of wood sticking out the back (that's what is going to hold it to the bed)

I then attached a piece across the front (I was making sides for the shelf, so nothing would fall off)

(excuse my filthy feet)

This next part is totally up to you.  My daughter wanted it a little fancy, so we used the molding to cover the rough edges.  My son wanted it really "boy" which means no fills, we we just sanded, and caulked and make it look good.  Then we covered it in a good coating of spray paint.

Once it's good and dry.  Lift up the mattress on the top bunk and slide the shelf supports under the mattress,  You can screw it into the wood slats under the mattress, but I didn't want it to permanently fixed. (be sure to warn the kids not to put too much on it, and not to stand or hang on it)

Now the "top bunkers" each have their own little night stand to put their stuff on.  (on a side note, don't you just love the little scripture covers my daughter designed for her scriptures)

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